Last



July 2 1927. 1,636,677

J. BENDA LAST Filed Oct. 11. 1924 Patented July 26, 1927.

. Janostmr BE DA,..-on;feBAGun, czEonosLovnkiaQ Last.

The object of the present invention fis to produce boots and shoes--haeving :a sconca've I support forthe foot,and the inventionzconer sists in" providing for "this purpose-a last having bottom surfa'ce' compr lsrng dl'e portion which is" snbstantiallyxfiatz. n cross section and asubstantially fiat :margmr extending entirely around the last except at the inside of the: shank, the margin being upwardly inclined relative to said middle portion.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of the improved last, taken on the line -II of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2, a bottom view of the last,

Fig. 3 is'a section across the seat portion of the last taken on the line III-III,

Fig. 4, a section across the shank portion taken on the, line IVIV,

Fig. 5, a section across the joint portion taken on the line V -V all of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a section across the seat portion of a modified form of the last,

Fig. 7, a section across the joint portion showing a similar modification,

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of-a last whlch 1s shod with metal, 7

Fig. 9, an incomplete bottom view showing a metal shoe of modified construction,

Fig. 10 is a section on the line XX of Fig. 8,

Fig. 11, another section showing the metal shoe applied in adifierent manner and Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view on a larger scale showing the cross-sectional outline of the last at the joint.

In order to provide a concave support for the foot, the boot or shoe last 1 is formed at the bottom with a margin 3 which is carried entirely around the last except at the inside of theshank and which is set at an angle a corresponding approximately to the slope of the sole of the foot, to the middle port-ion 2. The chamfering of the last which produces the margin 3 provides accommodation for the various connecting elements and allows the insole to lie in direct contact with the sole so that, while the foot will be supported by a surface which is more in conformity with its shape, the filling material usually introduced between the soles will be obviated, the weight of the footwear being correspondingly reduced.

The cross-sectional outline of the surface 2, except at the shank, and also that of the margin 3, is substantially straight,

may beslightlzy coixvexxor coma-me iaagi tor: need. ands-requirements; The-i edgei a between 5 time i margin rand the :surface 2;: and

the; edgeivbetween the. margin andi'i'thes per-"pamtfofi:thseilasn: can either be: sliarpm'm- A indicated in the drawings or roundui-iofiifso thatithe difiere'nt' surfaces an merge'gradualiliyiintoZeaahothemf I T The surface 2 may either be horizontal as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or inclined in either direction, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 according to whether the weight of the user of the footwear is uniformly distributed over the width of the'sole or displaced towards one side or the other. By this arrangement uniform wear of the sole and the heel can be ensured in all circumstances. 1 When the bottom of the last is provide with a metal facing,'this is only ap lied to the surface 2 either in the form of a continuous plate 11, as shown in Fig. 8, or in the form of a horseshoe plate 15 which follows the edge 5 as shown in Fig. 9. The plates are secured by means of screws 12 or the like and are either let into the wood,

the last in the form of a spray.

The heel portion of the last is according to the invention traversed vertically by a sleeve 16 which is screwed through a bore 8 in the last. To look this sleeve to the last, one end of it is formed with a flange 7-18, the other end is, after the sleeve has been screwed through the last, flared or upset against the wood as shown at 17. The flange 18 may be made wide enough to take fastening screws 19, as shown in Fig. 1. The sleeve 16 strengthens the last and prevents it from splitting under the action of the heel nailing machine.

The last may be formed out of an existing conventional last by applying to the latter, so as to form the surface 2 and the margin 3, a suitable filling of leather, fibre, wood or other suitable material.

The angle a is generally about 20 but it may be varied according to circumstances, and it need not be uniform entirely around the last; At the back of the seat, and at the toe, for instance, where,rowing to the acute- The metal ness of thecurve, a considerable accumulation of leather occurs, the angle may be.

somewhat increased.v Such Variation may also take ,placeiin respect of the width of the margin which is normally from one quarter to one fifth of the widest portion of the bottom surface of the last.

The diagram in Fig. 12 shows the plot: ting ofthe angles a relative to the hori zontal p across the joint R. The broken line 7 indicates the plane in which the upper is stitched to the insole;

-Owing to the absence offillingbetween the soles, the'foot can rest deeper inthe-shoe which can-therefore be made smaller and neater than usual. At the same time the shoe will be'much more comfortable to wear.

'I claim:, r a v i =1. Aboot: last having a bottom surface comprising a middle bottom portionwhich is. substantially flat in cross-section, and a the margin being substantially one quarter of the widest: portion of the bottom surface of the last, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. V V

. 2,.The last structure claimed in claim 1 and a metalinsertionarrangedso as to define the boundary between the middle bottom portion and the inclined margin.

In testimony name to this specification. 7

JAROSLAV BEND-A...

whereof I have signed my 

